Barisal Correspondent :
Activists of different non-government and social alliance demanded immediate cancellation of the government’s proposal of lowering girl’s minimum age of marriage to 16.
“Even putting it on the table for discussion will send a wrong message across Bangladesh as well as throughout the world. Apart from health hazards, early marriages would create “larger social insecurity”,” they said.
The participants also condemn the government’s decision of creating a national action plan where the minimum age of marriage for girls is 16, and demanding its immediate cancellation threatened to pursue strict movements if the demand is not met.
Activists of National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, Girls Not Brides, Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Girl Power Alliance, non-government and child rights organizations, said these in a press conference at Barisal Reporters Unity on Sunday noon.
It was addressed among others by Akkas Hossain, Anowar Zahid, Khaleda Huq, and Shuvangkar Chakraborty.
“Lowering girl’s age of marriage to 16 is a suicidal decision. Considering the overpopulation scenario of Bangladesh. Marrying off any girl before 18 will legally introduce child marriage in the society,”the speakers opined.
They also pointed at the United Nation’s Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the existing laws of Bangladesh that strictly prohibits marriage before the age of 18.
“Everyone is recognized by law as children before they turn 18. According to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, any consensual or non-consensual sexual activity with someone bellows the age of 18 is considered as rape. If the age of marriage is lowered to 16, it will legalize of child rape,” they speakers told narrating different existing laws and international protocols.
Activists of different non-government and social alliance demanded immediate cancellation of the government’s proposal of lowering girl’s minimum age of marriage to 16.
“Even putting it on the table for discussion will send a wrong message across Bangladesh as well as throughout the world. Apart from health hazards, early marriages would create “larger social insecurity”,” they said.
The participants also condemn the government’s decision of creating a national action plan where the minimum age of marriage for girls is 16, and demanding its immediate cancellation threatened to pursue strict movements if the demand is not met.
Activists of National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, Girls Not Brides, Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Girl Power Alliance, non-government and child rights organizations, said these in a press conference at Barisal Reporters Unity on Sunday noon.
It was addressed among others by Akkas Hossain, Anowar Zahid, Khaleda Huq, and Shuvangkar Chakraborty.
“Lowering girl’s age of marriage to 16 is a suicidal decision. Considering the overpopulation scenario of Bangladesh. Marrying off any girl before 18 will legally introduce child marriage in the society,”the speakers opined.
They also pointed at the United Nation’s Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the existing laws of Bangladesh that strictly prohibits marriage before the age of 18.
“Everyone is recognized by law as children before they turn 18. According to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, any consensual or non-consensual sexual activity with someone bellows the age of 18 is considered as rape. If the age of marriage is lowered to 16, it will legalize of child rape,” they speakers told narrating different existing laws and international protocols.
